रब्राह्मणानां किलार्थाय ननु त्वं तप्तवांस्तपः। द्विजानामनधीता वै वेदाः संप्रतिभान्त्विति
"Was it not for the sake of the Brāhmaṇas that you performed austerities? Now, for the twice-born who have not studied, the Vedas appear to shine."
तथा कल्याणशीलस्त्वं ब्राह्मणेषुमहात्मसु। अनागाः सर्वभूतेषु कर्कशत्वमुपेयिवान्
"Though you were of virtuous conduct among the great-souled Brāhmaṇas, and innocent toward all beings, you have embraced harshness."
प्रतिषिद्धो मया तात रैभ्यावसथदर्शनात्। गतवानेव तं क्षुद्रं कालान्तकयमोपमम्
"Though I forbade you, my son, from going to Raibhya's dwelling, you went to that wretch, like one rushing to death."
यः स जानन्महातेजा वृद्धस्यैकं ममात्मजम्। गतवानेव कोपस्य वशं परमदुर्मतिः
"He, knowing, of great energy, my only son, though old, went under the sway of anger— truly of most evil mind."
पुत्रशोकमनुप्राप्त एष रैभ्यस्य कर्मणा। त्यक्ष्यामि त्वामृतेपुत्र प्राणानिष्टतमान्भुवि
"Stricken by grief for my son, because of Raibhya's deed, I shall abandon my life, dearest on earth, bereft of my child."
यथाऽहं पुत्रशोकेन देहं त्यक्ष्यामि किल्विषी। तथा ज्येष्ठः सुतो रैभ्यं हिंस्याच्छीघ्रमनागसम्
"As I, sinful, shall give up my body out of grief for my son, so too may Raibhya's eldest son quickly harm him, though innocent."
सुखिनो वै नरा येषां जाया पुत्रो न विद्यते। ये पुत्रशोकमप्राप्य विचरन्ति यथासुखम्
Truly happy are those men who have neither wife nor son; they roam about, free from the sorrow of losing a child, as they please.
ये तु पुत्रकृताच्छोकाद्भृशं व्याकुलचेतसः। शपन्तीष्टान्सखीनार्तास्तेभ्यः पापतरो नु कः
But those whose minds are greatly troubled by grief caused by their sons, who curse their dear friends in anguish—who could be more sinful than them?
परासुश्च सुतो दृष्टः शप्तश्चैष्टः सखा मया। ईदृशीमापदं कोत्र द्वितीयोऽनुविष्यति
I have seen my son in another's house, and I have cursed my friend; who else could ever experience such misfortune as this?
विलप्यैवं बहुविधं भरद्वाजोऽदहत्सुतम्। सुसमिद्धं ततः पश्चात्प्रविवेश हुताशनम्
Lamenting in many ways, Bharadvaja burned his son; then, after the fire was well kindled, he entered the sacrificial flames.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु बृहद्द्युम्नो महीपतिः। सत्रं तेने महाभागो रैभ्ययाज्यः प्रतापवान्
At that very time, the great and illustrious king Brihaddyumna, powerful and renowned, conducted a sacrificial session, with Raibhya as the chief priest.
तेन रैभ्यस्य वै पुत्रावर्वावसुपरासू। वृतौ सहायौ सत्रार्थं बृहद्द्युम्नेन धीमता
For the sake of the sacrifice, Raibhya's sons, Arvavasu and Paravasu, wise and capable, assisted Brihaddyumna.
तत्र तौ समनुज्ञातौ पित्रा कौन्तेय जग्मतुः। आश्रमे त्वभवद्रैभ्यो भार्या चैव परावसोः
There, with their father's permission, the two sons went, O son of Kunti; meanwhile, Raibhya's wife remained at the hermitage, as did Paravasu's.
अथावलोककोऽगच्छद्गृहानकः परावसुः। कृष्णाजिनेन संवीतं ददर्श पितरं वने
Then Paravasu, the observer, went home; in the forest, he saw his father, wrapped in a black deerskin.
जघन्यरात्रे निद्रान्धः सावशेषे तमस्यापि। चरन्तं गहनेऽरण्ये मेने स पितरं मृगम्
In the darkest part of the night, blinded by sleep and the lingering gloom, he saw his father wandering in the dense forest and mistook him for a deer.
मृगं तु मन्यमानेन पिता वै तेन हिंसितः। अकामयानेन तदा शरीरत्राणमिच्छता
Thinking him to be a deer, Paravasu harmed his father, unintentionally, while seeking to protect his own body.
तस्य स प्रेतकार्याणि कृत्वा सर्वाणि भारत। पुनरागम्य तत्सत्रमब्रवीद्धातरं वचः
Having performed all the funeral rites for him, O Bharata, Paravasu returned to the sacrificial session and spoke to his father.
इदं कर्म न शक्तस्त्वं वोढुमेकः कथंचन। मया च हिंसितस्तातो मन्यमानेन वै मृगम्
You are not able to bear this task alone in any way; father, I harmed you, mistaking you for a deer.
सोऽस्मदर्थे व्रतं तात चर त्वं ब्रह्मघातिनाम्। समर्थो ह्यहमेकाकी कर्म कर्तुमिदं मुने
So, for our sake, father, undertake the vow for those who have killed a Brahmin; I alone am capable of performing this task, O sage.
करोतु वै भवान्सत्रं बृहद्द्युम्नस्य धीमतः। ब्रह्महत्यां चरिष्येऽहं त्वदर्थं नियतेन्द्रियः
Let you conduct the sacrifice for the wise Brihaddyumna; I will undertake the penance for Brahmin-slaying for your sake, with controlled senses.
स तस्यब्रह्महत्यायाः पारं गत्वा युधिष्ठिर। अर्वावसुस्तदा सत्रमाजगाम पुनर्मुनिः
Having crossed over the sin of Brahmin-slaying, O Yudhishthira, Arvavasu then returned to the sacrificial session, as a sage.
ततः परावसुर्दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं समुपस्थितम्। बृहद्द्युम्नमुवाचेदं वचनं हर्षगद्गदम्
Then, seeing his brother arrive, Paravasu, overwhelmed with joy, spoke these words to Brihaddyumna.
एष ते ब्रह्महा यज्ञं मा द्रष्टुं प्रविशेदिति। ब्रह्महा प्रेक्षितेनापि पीडयेत्त्वामसंशयम्
This is the Brahmin-slayer; let him not enter to witness your sacrifice. Even being seen by a Brahmin-slayer would surely afflict you.
तच्छ्रुत्वैव तदा राजा प्रेष्यानाह स विट्पते। प्रेष्यैरुत्सार्यमाणस्तु राजन्नर्वावसुस्तदा। न मया ब्रह्महत्येयं कृतेत्याह पुनःपुनः
Hearing this, the king immediately ordered his attendants; as Arvavasu was being driven away, he repeatedly said, 'I have not committed Brahmin-slaying.'
उच्यमानोऽसकृत्प्रेष्यैर्ब्रह्महा इति भारत। नैवस्म प्रतिजानामि ब्र्हमहत्यां स्वयंकृताम्। मम भ्रात्रा कृतमिदं मया स परिमोक्षितः
Though repeatedly called a brahmin-slayer by the servants, O Bhārata, I do not admit to having committed brahmin-murder myself. This was done by my brother, whom I have now released.
स तथा प्रवदन्क्रोधात्तैश्च प्रेष्यैः प्रभाषितः। तूष्णीं जगाम ब्रह्मर्षिर्वनमेव महातपाः
Thus spoken to in anger and addressed by those servants, the great ascetic brahmarshi became silent and went into the forest.
उग्रं तपः समास्थाय दिवाकरमथाश्रितः। रहस्यवेदं कृतवान्सूर्यस्य द्विजसत्तमः
Undertaking severe austerities and seeking the sun, the best of twice-born sages mastered the secret knowledge.
मूर्तिमांस्तं ददर्शाथ स्वयमग्रभुगव्ययः
Then, the imperishable one who partakes first of offerings appeared to him in person.
प्रीतास्तस्याभवन्देवाः कर्मणाऽर्वावसोर्नृप। तं ते प्रवरयामासुर्निरासुश्च परावसुम्
Pleased by his act, O King, the gods favored him; they granted him boons and restored Parāvasu to life.
ततो देवा वरं तस्मै ददुरग्निपुरोगमाः
Then the gods, led by Agni, granted him a boon.